$1.9 million in Grants Awarded to Local Nonprofit Organizations

The MetroWest Health Foundation announced the award of over $1.9 million in grants to area organizations. Based on the recommendations of the foundation's Grant Panels and Distribution Committee, the Board of Trustees have approved the award of twenty-nine new grants to MetroWest health and human service organizations. Included in this round of funding are grants to expand mental health services for youth, bolster organizational capacity building, and a new community engagement strategy focused on homeless Latinx youth.

The foundation also made recent grants to support the development of a state-of-the-art Patient Simulation Center at MassBay Community College's new Health Science Center now under construction in Framingham. The foundation is also supporting Behavioral Health Partners of MetroWest as they implement a new health & human services hub - MetroWest Care Connection - that will provide enhanced access to services and supports across Ashland, Framingham and Natick.

Organizations receiving grants are as follows:

Youth Mental Health Initiatives -

Advanced Math and Science Academy Charter School $5,000
To provide students access to the INTERFACE Referral Service.

Advocates, Inc. $49,889
To provide mental health supports in the Marlborough Public Schools.

Doc Wayne Youth Services, Inc. $50,000
To expand group therapy programs at Framingham Public Schools.

Framingham Public Schools $100,000
To support additional mental health counselors.

Hopedale Public Schools $48,474
To support a Multi-Tiered System of Support counseling program.

Westborough Public Schools $57,500
To provide universal mental health screening and supports.

Capacity Building Initiatives -

Advocates, Inc. $25,000
To develop a training curriculum to increase staff retention.

Dignity Matters, Inc. $25,000
To purchase a volunteer management system.

Franklin Food Pantry $3,900
To provide trauma-informed nutrition training for staff and volunteers.

Holliston Council on Aging $25,000
To conduct a comprehensive study of the town’s 55+ population.

Natick Service Council, Inc. $25,000
To purchase a volunteer management system.

Needham Public Health Division $4,000
To enhance clinical supervision of clinicians and direct service workers.

RIA House Inc. $18,050
To support staff professional development opportunities.

South Middlesex Opportunity Council, Inc. $40,000
To integrate agency data systems.

SPARK Kindness, Inc. $49,980
To develop a comprehensive strategy to promote volunteer engagement.

Wayside Youth & Family Support Network, Inc. $50,000
To provide racial trauma training.

Community Engagement Initiatives -

Wayside Youth & Family Support Network, Inc. $49,999
To address the root causes of homelessness among Latinx youth and young adults in MetroWest.

Responsive Grants –

Framingham Health Department $20,000
To develop a regional rapid response grief outreach program for families of fatal overdose victims.

Jewish Family Service of Metrowest $20,000
To resettle and support Afghan Evacuees in MetroWest.

MetroWest Regional Transit Authority $12,850
To equip paratransit vehicles with AEDs.

Needham Public Health Division $20,000
To support a facilitated discussion on shared regional public health services.

Other Recent Grants -

A Place to Turn
To support the food pantry. $30,000

Behavioral Health Partners of MetroWest $399,999
To implement a Health & Social Service Hub.

Family Promise MetroWest $100,000
To convert the day center into an overnight family shelter.

Lovin’ Spoonfuls $150,000
To establish a second MetroWest route.

MassBay Community College $500,000
Establish a Health Sciences Patient Simulation Lab.

MetroWest Free Medical Program $50,000
To support Basic Health Needs - Primary Care.

Natick Service Council, Inc. $30,000
To support the food pantry.

Wayside Youth & Family Support Network, Inc. $21,948
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Training Program